Signing day brings joy, relief to county athletes

Athletes from around the county signed their National Letters of Intent to accept athletic scholarships from Division I and Division II college programs, while others committed to Division III schools.

There are plenty of ways to get the attention of college scouts. Of course, the best way is to play at a high level and get your name out there and take your pick of which school will pay you to play and get your education.

Another route to go is to perfect a specialty. In football, for example, long snapping.

That’s the route South River’s Daniel Moore chose, and it could soon pay off for him.

Moore, who transferred to South River in time for his junior year of baseball, played on the Seahawks football team last year and is headed to the University of Virginia as a preferred walk-on.

While Moore was not offered an athletic scholarship right away, Virginia showed enough interest in him to use one of their allotted preferred walk-on spots.

“It was a really exciting process for Dan and our program overall,” South River coach Ed Dolch said. “When the younger guys see those big universities walking our hallways, that’s motivation. Hopefully we were able to draw some positive attention for our program.”

Moore perfected his craft by going to several camps and showcases. He visited several Division I schools and also had offers from Delaware and Northwestern. While he was not given a full scholarship to attend Virginia, he carries close to a 4.0 grade point average and Virginia has already indicated it would like to take a look at him on the offensive line.

“They really liked him and his long-snapping abilities, so they didn’t want to take any chances,” Dolch said. “This is something he has taken very seriously.”

Stories like Moore’s played out across the county on Wednesday, as several athletes either singed their Letters of Intent to Division I or Divsion II schools or committed to other programs.

Archbishop Spalding kicker Camden Price is headed to the University of Miami (Fla.), also as a preferred walk-on.

"Camden was the top kicker in the MIAA A Conference and had multiple offers to join schools in the Big 10, AAC and ACC as a kicker,” Cavaliers’ coach Kyle Schmitt said. “He will have the opportunity to compete for the starting job at Miami as soon as he is on campus. He is also a top student and a great addition to the Miami roster."

Many of the top Division I-bound football players signed during a new early signing period in December. This regular signing period lasts until April 1. For soccer and men’s water polo, the signing period runs through Aug. 1. All other sports had earlier signing periods, while athletes in all sports can sign from April 1 to Aug. 1.

The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference champion St. Mary’s football team had three players sign during the early period, while three more made their commitments official on Wednesday.

Donald Day, a first-team All-County running back who rushed for more than 1,600 yards and scored 16 touchdowns last year, is headed to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

“This process has been great, but it’s also been a hassle,” said Day, who hopes to get into sports medicine. “Throughout the season I really wanted to focus on the team, but it was hard to do.”

Parker Lewis, a two-year starter at center who head coach Jason Budroni called the leader of a very good and aggressive offensive line, will play for Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

“This means a lot to me,” Lewis said. “Being able to go to college with a whole new group of people, but I’m really sad leaving all my friends here.”

Kyle Hill, the quarterback of the MIAA B Conference championship team who got the Saints rolling by throwing a touchdown pass to open the scoring against Severn in the championship game, is staying closer to home and will play at Salisbury University.

“It was stressful, but it’s been great,” Hill said. “They just graduated a senior quarterback and they have a junior coming back, so hopefully I’ll be able to compete in the fall.”

The three who committed on Wednesday gives the Saints six players from their championship team who will play at the next level, joining Timber Berzins (Navy), Jamie Romo (Navy) and Ryan Poole (William & Mary).

“I love these these kids and I’m happy to see them go on to play college football,” said Budroni, who played at the University of Miami (Fla.). “It’s great for our program and makes the school look good.”

It wasn’t all football on Wednesday. Several girls soccer players from the St. Mary’s IAAM B Conference championship team made their college choices official on Wednesday after participating in a ceremony in November. Severn’s Devin McCarthy signed to play soccer at William & Mary and South River’s standout runner Hannah McGlynn is headed to Lafayette.

Here is a list provided by county coaches of Anne Arundel high school athletes who signed their National Letters of Intent or committed to colleges on Wednesday. Email sports@capgaznews.com to add to the list.

Football

Julius Chestnut, Archbishop Spalding (Sacred Heart)

Cody Anderson, Archbishop Spalding (Wheeling Jesuit)

Jamari Jones, Archbishop Spalding (Merrimack College)

Camden Price, Archbishop Spalding (University of Miami, Fla.)

DaeSean Winston, Archbishop Spalding (Temple)

Cody Winokur, Archbishop Spalding (Army)

Zach Doyle, Broadneck (Shepherd)

Steven Jacobs, Broadneck (Dickinson)

Alex Roland, Broadneck (Frostburg)

Nicky Orofino, Broadneck (Bowdoin)

Daniel Moore, South River (Virginia)

Ben Casey, South River (Kenyon)

Amir Franklin-Branch, South River (ASAJC)

Eric Weaver, Meade (VMI)

Anthony May, Meade (Alderson Broaddus)

Mike Corbi, Mount St. Joseph/Arnold (Villanova)

Ryan Gorman, Mount St. Joseph/Millersville (Wheeling Jesuit)

Juan Mendoza, Mount St. Joseph/Severn resident (Wheeling Jesuit)

Andrew Long, Chesapeake (Wingate College)

William Sullivan, Chesapeake (Frostburg)

Dante Thompson, Chesapeake (Frostburg)

Parker Lewis, St. Mary’s (Trinity)

Donald Day, St. Mary’s (Case Western Reserve)

Kyle Hill, St. Mary’s, (Salisbury)

Isaac Clarke, Glen Burnie resident (Slippery Rock)

Ryan Sedgwick, Arundel (Frostburg)

Colin Tracy, Arundel (Shenandoah)

Darius Hunter, Arundel (Lock Haven)

Boys Soccer

Devin McCarthy, Severn (William & Mary)

Kyle Berkowitz, South River (St. Mary’s College)

Alex McGlynn, Archbishop Spalding (Eastern)

Sean Dougherty, Archbishop Spalding (Stevenson)

Patrick Miller, Chesapeake (Averett University)

Jake Hynson, Chesapeake (Hood College)

Andrew Colebrook, Chesapeake (York College)

Girls Soccer

Ashtyn Bethel, Arundel (Shippensburg)

Chloe Byrne, St. Mary’s (Flagler)

Katie Hoffman, St. Marys (La Salle)

Josseline Rodriguez, St. Mary’s (Point University)

Sarah Dewitt, St. Marys (LIU Brooklyn)

Grace Moore, St. Mary’s (Dickinson)

Lindsay Hegewisch, St. Mary’s (Salisbury)

Sarah Gellert, Severna Park (Rider)

Michelle Money, Severn (St. John’s)

Madison Scott, South River (Charleston Southern)

Kinlee Bruns, Northeast (St. Peters)

Rayna Heckman, Archbishop Spalding (West. Va. Wesleyan)

Madison Wheeler, Chesapeake (Air Force Academy)

Ellen Ziaja, Chesapeake (Emory University)

Swimming

Devin McClure, South River (Coast Guard)

Track

Hannah McGlynn, South River (Lafayette)

Travis McKenry, Arundel (Susquehanna)

CAPTION

The Severna Park softball team celebrates its Class 4A East Region softball title.

The Severna Park softball team celebrates its Class 4A East Region softball title.

CAPTION

The Severna Park softball team celebrates its Class 4A East Region softball title.

The Severna Park softball team celebrates its Class 4A East Region softball title.

CAPTION

First day of football practice for public schools in Anne Arundel County.

First day of football practice for public schools in Anne Arundel County.

CAPTION

Catch the closing seconds of South River’s 8-6 victory over Severna Park on Wednesday, May 16, in the Class 4A East Region final.

Catch the closing seconds of South River’s 8-6 victory over Severna Park on Wednesday, May 16, in the Class 4A East Region final.

CAPTION

Severna Park defeated Arundel, 4-1, on May 15 in the Class 4A East Region Section I final.

Severna Park defeated Arundel, 4-1, on May 15 in the Class 4A East Region Section I final.

CAPTION

Severna Park defeated Chesapeake, 3-1, in the county softball championship game on Tuesday, May 8.

Severna Park defeated Chesapeake, 3-1, in the county softball championship game on Tuesday, May 8.